WTB knows by now that I love testing new tires, and after testing quite a few of their gravel options over the years, the new Macro 54 was one I definitely wanted to try. There was one small problem: at 54 mm wide, I needed a bike with enough clearance to actually mount them. This is where my LCKD N LDED Jackrabbit came into the picture. With its mountain bike inspired design and generous tire clearance, it ended up being the perfect bike to see what WTB’s biggest new gravel tire could do.
About WTB
WTB, or Wilderness Trail Bikes, has been around since 1982 and has built a strong reputation for developing components for mountain biking, gravel and adventure riding. Tires are a big part of their lineup and something I have had the chance to test extensively over the years. From fast rolling gravel tires to much more aggressive options, WTB offers a wide range depending on where and how you ride.
The Macro 54
At 700 x 54 mm, the Macro 54 is a seriously large gravel tire designed for rougher terrain and bigger adventures. WTB combines its high-volume casing with a more aggressive tread and wider-spaced knobs designed to provide additional traction on loose, rocky and technical terrain.
The center knobs are tightly packed to help reduce rolling resistance and improve tread longevity while still providing braking and climbing traction. The rounded profile is designed to keep the tire predictable when cornering across different surfaces.
The Macro 54 uses WTB’s TCS Light/Fast Rolling 120 TPI casing, Dual DNA compound and SG2 puncture protection. It is tubeless ready and weighs 650 grams in the black version.
WTB also worked with Stromm on the aerodynamic side of the Macro 54. Vortex Generators and Trip Strips are integrated into the sidewalls to help manage airflow around the tire and wheel. Aerodynamics might sound a little strange when talking about a 54 mm tire, but it shows just how far wide gravel tires have evolved.
Testing
The Jackrabbit gave me the opportunity to use the Macro 54 on the type of terrain it was really designed for. I rode everything from regular gravel roads and hardpack to loose gravel, rough sections and singletrack.
The first thing that stood out was the amount of grip. With the extra volume and more aggressive tread, you can really push the Macro into terrain where a traditional gravel tire starts reaching its limits. Loose surfaces are handled extremely well and the tire remains predictable when the terrain gets rougher.
What surprised me was its versatility. Looking at a 54 mm tire with this much tread, I expected to give up quite a bit of rolling speed in exchange for all that traction. In reality, it rolls better than I expected. Once you’re on gravel, the balance between rolling efficiency and grip makes a lot of sense.
The extra volume is also noticeable when things get rough. Being able to run lower pressures adds another level of comfort and control, particularly on rocky sections and singletrack. Combined with the Jackrabbit, I found myself riding terrain that sits somewhere between what we traditionally call gravel and mountain biking without really thinking about whether the tires could handle it.
That is probably what impressed me the most about the Macro 54. It gives you the freedom to explore rougher terrain without making the bike feel completely out of place when you return to a regular gravel road.
In conclusion
The WTB Macro 54 won’t fit every gravel bike, and at 54 mm, tire clearance is obviously something you need to check before considering them. In my case, using the Jackrabbit turned out to be the perfect platform to really see what these tires were capable of.
They are grippy, comfortable and much more versatile than their size and tread pattern might initially suggest. If your definition of gravel includes rough roads, loose terrain, singletrack and the occasional section that makes you question whether you’re still actually gravel riding, the Macro 54 starts making a lot of sense.
For riders looking to push their gravel bike further into rough and technical terrain, the Macro 54 offers an impressive combination of volume, grip and rolling efficiency. It isn’t going to fit every gravel bike, but if you have the clearance and your rides regularly take you beyond traditional gravel roads, this is a tire that makes a lot of sense.
